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May 13 2024 6.16am

Palace 1 - 1 Bradford City

Tue Aug 13 2002 - League

Crystal Palace only managed to get a 1-1 draw from their first home game of the season against Bradford City.

They can count themselves unlucky as they deserved to get the three points, but sloppy defending by Danny Granville and no killer instinct in front of goal cost them.

Match Stats

Ground: Selhurst Park (Attendance: 15205)

Palace: Clarke, Fleming (Austin 32), Granville, Popovic, Powell, Butterfield, Mullins, Derry, Black (Riihilahti 45), Johnson (Kabba 83), Freedman.

Subs not used: Kolinko, Thomson.

Bookings: Granville, Powell.

Goal: Popovic 80.

Bradford City: Walsh, Atherton, Myers, Uhlenbeek, Emanuel (Bower 78), Kearney, Lawrence, Evans, Gray, Cadamarteri (Tod 71), Ward.

Subs not used: Standing, Davison, Jorgensen.

Bookings: Evans, Kearney, Ward.

Goal: Tod 76.

Referee: P Armstrong (Thatcham)

Tony Popovic's equaliser came 10 minutes from time from Danny Butterfield's cross on the right.

Bradford had taken the lead four minutes before through substitute Andy Tod.

Palace started the game well and had several opportunities to take the lead.

Dougie Freedman and Andy Johnson looked lively and the former had a great chance to score when he rounded Gary Walsh but saw his shot hit a defender's head.

Shaun Derry had a good game on his home debut and had two headers easily saved by Walsh.

Bradford's Paul Evans then had a 25-yard free-kick, which was destined for the top right corner, superbly saved by Matt Clarke.

Dean Austin had to replace the injured Curtis Fleming, who went off with a head injury on around the half hour mark.

Palace re-shaped and continued to dominate proceedings as Bradford defended solidly. Palace did everything but find that killer final touch to score.

It didn't help matters when the referee seemed to give almost everything Bradford's way. Trevor Francis was furious with some of his decisions and was sent off after remonstarting with the ref.

Then when Bradford scored, it looked like the Yorkshire side would go home with an undeserved three points.

Granville stupidly dived in on the left of the penalty box and allowed the cross from Jamie Lawrence to get to Tod who netted from close range in the roof of the net.

Then Popovic popped up near the end to head home a well-deserved equaliser for the Eagles, but the game should have been already wrapped up by then.

Post match comments:

Trevor Francis said: "We found it difficult to create openings against a hard working Bradford side.

"They played 4-4-2 and had good shape although they were not very adventurous. Both their full-backs tucked in and hardly ventured forward.


I was very disappointed by their goal and when I turned round I saw Kolinko laughing so I cuffed him around the ear.
Trevor Francis

"I think the longer the match went on, the better we were. I brought on Aki at half-time because I felt we were second best in midfield.

"We also pushed Granville and Butterfield forward as wing-backs and they both provided some excellent crosses.

"I was very disappointed by their goal and when I turned round I saw Kolinko laughing so I cuffed him around the ear. It was only a bit of fun and the view was actually better from the stand."

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